New Zealand’s National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee is seeking public feedback on the Draft Code of Welfare for horses.

The draft is a revision of the existing code. Submissions close on March 12.

Committee chairman John Hellström said the code advised owners or those in charge of horses about how they can comply with their obligations under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 to meet the animals’ physical, health and behavioural needs and to alleviate pain and distress.

The Act’s obligations are written in general terms and it is codes of welfare for each species that contain the detailed minimum standards of care and recommendations for best practice.

Minimum standards in the code have legal effect as they may be used in evidence in the prosecution of offences
under the Act. Demonstrating compliance with minimum standards may be used in defending a prosecution.

The draft code applies to all horses, ponies, donkeys and crossbreds that are kept for any purpose in New Zealand, including those kept as companions, for breeding, for sport, entertainment or as working animals.

The code also applied to unbroken and undomesticated horses contained for management purposes.

The proposed minimum standards relate to stockmanship and animal handling; restraint and containment; saddlery and equipment; the provision of food, water and shelter; housing facilities; behaviour and health; breeding; identification; and pre-transport requirements.

This code was originally drafted by the New Zealand Equine Health Association.

It sets out the committee’s assessment of the expectations of New Zealanders for the welfare of equines and
has been reviewed by representatives of interested and affected parties.

The committee has determined that the draft code meets the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act for release
for public consultation and is now seeking public feedback before finalising the code.

Comments were invited on any aspect of the draft code, Hellström said.

Those making submissions should specify those aspects that they support or oppose, the reasoning behind comments, and any alternatives to the provisions of the draft code they wish to recommend.

Hellström said the committee would particularly welcome comment on the following questions:

Do you consider a code of welfare for equines to be necessary? Are there any alternatives which would achieve the same outcome as having a code of welfare? If so what are they?

Do you agree that the minimum standards in this code are the minimum necessary to ensure that the physical, health, and behavioural needs of equines will be met? For example, do the minimum standards reflect good practice (not just current practice), current scientific knowledge and available technology? If not, what alternatives do you suggest? Please state your reasons.

Do you agree the example indicators given are appropriate to describe how to measure or assess the achievement of the intended outcome of the minimum standards? If not, what alternative(s) do you suggest? Please state your reasons.

Do you agree that the recommendations for best practice in this code are appropriate? If not, what alternatives do you suggest? Please state reasons.

Do you think this code would change existing arrangements for the management of equines? If so, how, and to what extent?

Will complying with this code involve costs for you or your business? For example, costs may include converting existing animal facilities or employing new staff.

What barriers do you see to the implementation of the proposed code and how might they be resolved?

What benefits do you see from having this code? Benefits may include, for example, increased certainty about animal welfare requirements or market gains.

What other impacts would this code have on New Zealand society, the economy, or the environment?

Hellström said the committee would carefully consider all submissions received, and other matters that it is required to consider under the Animal Welfare Act, before finalising the code and recommending it to the Primary Industries Minister for issue.

He said submissions were public information and may be the subject of requests under the Official Information Act 1982.